Gable roof covering and means for securing the same



Jan. 10, 1967 G. VARLONGA 3,296,761

GABLE ROOF COVERING AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE SAME Filed Dec. 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet L mu m -v I NVENTOR. g 6x0 141102 r 71;

Jan. 10, 1967 VARLONGA 3,296,761

GABLE ROOFbOVERING AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAME Filed Dec. 3, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 GIOVANNI VARLON GA United States Patent l 3,296,761 CABLE ROOF COVERING AND MEANS FQR SECURING THE SAME Giovanni Varlonga, Via B. Verro 90, Milan, Italy Filed Dec. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 327,694 Claims priority, application Italy Dec. 11, 1962 8 Claims. (Cl. 52-278) The present invention relates to a metal covering for roofs, particularly for roofs of pre-fabricated or dismantleable structures.

According to the present invention there is provided a roof, comprising a framework which is at least partly metallic, substantially flat metal sheets supported by the framework and placed edge to edge to cover said framework, means carried on the framework for clamping the sheets to the framework, and members for covering junctions between adjacent sheets, wherein two opposite edges of each sheet are each folded to form an upwardly projecting corrugation or rib which latter term will be employed hereafter for the sake of brevity, and a downwardly projecting rib, the latter being nearer the edge of the sheet than the first mentioned rib and having its apex in the plane of the sheet, both ribs extending the length of the edge of the sheet and defining two oppositely facing channels, and wherein each clamping means includes a member spanning and engaging the ribbed edge parts of two adjacent sheets and screw means tightening this member down on the ribbed edge parts thereby to clamp the sheet to the framework, the covering members being in the form of spring strips having inwardly hooked longitudinal edges engaged with the ends of the clamping members and retained in position over junctions between adjacent sheets by spring action.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 i a part-sectional perspective view of the ridge of a gable roof,

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section of a device for clamping the covering sheets on the roof, the clamping device being shown during the assembly phase,

FIGURE 3 is a cross-section of the lower part of one side of the roof and a gutter,

FIGURE 4 is a detailed view showing the interconnection of the ridge cap and the hook, and

FIGURE 5 is a detailed View showing the interconnection between the hook and the covering.

The roof cover-ing consists of metal sheets A, made for example of aluminum, formed with stiffening ribs 10. Each sheet A has folds of sinusoidal form at its side edges to form two pairs of longitudinal ribs 14, 16 and 15, 17 extending parallel to the rib 10. These ribs at the side of each sheet A form pairs of oppositely facing channels 18, 20 and I9, 21 and the apices of the ribs 15 and 16 are coplanar with the flat portion of the sheet A. The apices of the ribs 14 and 17 are above the apices of the ribs 15 and 16.

The outer walls 24 and 25 of the channels 20 and 21 are substantially vertical and extend above the apices of the rib 14 and 17 to form junction edges between two adjacent sheets A. The securing and retaining of the sheets A to the framework or scaffolding B of the roof is effected by mean of screwthreaded rods 28, one of the ends of each rod 28 being secured to the web of a channel strip 34 of the scaffolding B. Each strip 3% has two flanges joined by a web to define a channel which opens downwardly, and each strip 30 has two further outwardly extending flanges 32 extending at right angles to the free edge of each of the first-mentioned flanges. The flanges 3,296,761 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 32 have turned up edges 34. The lower end of each screwthreaded rod 28 engages in a screwthreaded aperture in one of the strips 30, the aperture being reinforced with a screwthreaded washer 36 secured to the underside of the strip, and is locked by a nut 38. Mounted on the upper free end of each rod 28 is a clamping piece 40 the ends 42 of which are so shaped as to fit the lateral walls and the apices of the ribs 14 and 17. Two adjacent sheets A are clamped to the channel strip 30 of the roof scaffolding B by the clamping piece 40 being forced downwardly by nuts 44, 45 screwed on the upper ends of the rods 28.

The gaps formed between the edges of adjacent sheets A are each closed by spring strips 46 of inverted U- section which extend along and cover the gaps in a watertight manner. The edges of each strip 46 are folded inwardly so as to form hooks 43 which resiliently engage the ends 42 of the clamping pieces 40 thereby to retain the strip 45 on the roof and seal the gap.

The formation of the roof ridge is shown in FIG- URE 1. The edge of the sheet A at the ridge is folded upwardly to form a flange 50 the height of which is substantially equal to the height of the ribs 14 and 17. The aperture formed at the roof ridge is closed by a ridge cap or plate 52 of inverted V-section. The plate 52 is constituted by folding an elongated sheet member about a fold-line extending in longitudinal direction of the member and intermediate the longitudinal edges thereof, thus obtaining the ridge plate 52 of V-shaped configuration. The longitudinal edge parts of the plate 52 are folded under at edges 58 to form a doubled portion and folded again so as to form longitudinal downwardly extending flanges 54 the edges 56 of which are bent up and outwardly in hook-like manner as shown in FIGURE 4. The flanges 54 are thus located beneath the main portion of the plate 52 and inwardly of the new edge portions created by this operation, with the flanges 54 forming longitudinally extending channels which are open in upward direction, that is in direction away from the roof aperture.

In the channel formed by the edges 56 are engaged hooks 60, the shanks 62 of which are retained between a counter-clamp 64 and one of the clamping pieces 40 and are located in the upwardly open channels formed by folding of the edge portions of sheets A as described earlier. The lower end 66 of each shank 62 is bent at right-angles and engaged in one of the channels 20 or 21 as shown in FIGURE 5.

The assembly of the roof is as follows. First of all, the rafters and trusses are placed in position, and then the channelled strips 30 are fixed on the rafter to complete the roof scaffolding B. The strips 30 are of course provided with the rods 28 locked thereto by the nuts 38.

If the roof is to be provided with a thermo-insulating covering in addition to the covering sheets A, the appropriate panels D are laid over the strips 30. Corrugated support sheets D are provided for the panels D the opposite ends D of each sheet D being supported on the edges 34 of the flanges 32 of the strips 30. The thermo-insulating panels D are supported at the apex of the strips 30. Then the covering sheets A are placed in position starting from the gutter or eaves of the roof and progressing towards the ridge of the roof, the sheets A being arranged in the manner of tiles so that their lower edges overlap the upper edge of the sheet immediately below. The clamping pieces 40 are then tightened down by the nuts 44 so as to secure the sheets A to the channelled strips 30 by which they are supported. When the roof is provided with thermo-insulating panels D, nuts 45 are screwed onto the rods 28 before the clamping 3 pieces 40 are mounted on the rods 28. The clamping pieces 40 are then mounted above the nuts 45.

When this has been done, the strips 46 are sprung into position, their hooked edges 48 engaging the ends 42 of the clamping pieces 40. The strips 46 for covering the parts of the gaps between the sheets A nearest the ridge are left off at this stage or sprung on below their final position to permit access to the counter clamps 64. The covering is completed when the ridge plate 52 is secured by means of the hooks 60 being engaged in the channels formed by the wings 54 and the edges 56 and being clamped by the counter-clamps 64, and when the remaining strips 46 are subsequently slid up so that their upper ends lie beneath the doubled-edge portions of the covering plate 52.

A similar construction can be adopted to provide a single-slope roof and the scaffolding B in both cases is at least in part metallic. Such roofs are particularly suitable for roofs of pre-fabricated or dismantleable structures.

On each rod 28 a counter nut 45 is screwed so to abut against the free edges of walls 24, 25.

I claim:

1. A gable roof comprising (a) a framework which is at least partly metallic;

(b) metal sheet supported by the framework and placed edge to edge to cover said framework, two opposite edges of each sheet each being folded to form an upwardly projecting rib and a downwardly projecting rib, the latter rib being nearer the edge of the sheet than the first mentioned rib and having its apex in the plane of the sheet, both ribs extending the length of the edge of the sheet and defining two oppositely facing channels, the covering sheets being separated adjacent the ridge of said roof and forming a gap extending along said ridge;

(c) clamps securing each ribbed edge part of each sheet to the ribbed edge part of an adjacent sheet, each clamp including a member spanning and engaging the two adjacent ribbed edge parts and screw means mounted on the framework for tightening this member down onto the ribbed edge parts and clamping the sheets to the framework;

(d) spring strips covering the ribbed edge parts and clamps, each strip having inwardly hooked longitudinal edges for engaging the ends of said members and maintaining the longitudinal edges of the strip hooked on said members; a ridge cap covering said gap and comprising flanges projecting downwardly from the underside of said cap and having bent-up edges forming channels; and hooks held by the clamps most adjacent said ridge and engaging in the last-mentioned channels for holding said ridge cap on said roof.

2. A roof according to claim 1, wherein the uppermost edge of each sheet adjacent the ridge is folded upwardly to form a flange the height of which is substantially equal to the height of said projecting ribs.

3. In a gable-roof structure, a framework comprising a ridge and two mutually inclined sides adjoining said ridge; a first pair of sheet members supported by and covering one of said sides and a second pair of sheet members supported by and covering the other of said sides of said framework, said first pair being spaced from said second pair along said ridge and defining a gap, the sheet members of each pair being arranged edge to edge and each having two opposite longitudinal edge portions projecting upwardly in direction away from said framework; securing means securing adjacent upwardly projecting longitudinal edge portions of each pair of sheet members to one another and to said framework; covering means overlying said adjacent upwardly projecting edge portions of each pair of sheet members; a ridge cap overlying said ridge of said framework and covering said gap, said ridge cap comprising two mutually inclined sections each having a surface facing said framework and provided with an upwardly open channel located intermediate said surface and said framework; and hook means carried by said securing means and engaging the respective channels for thereby fastening said ridge cap to said framework.

4. In a gable-roof structure, a framework comprising a ridge and two mutually inclined sides adjoining said ridge; a first pair of sheet members supported by and covering one of said sides and a second pair of sheet members supported by and covering the other of said sides of said framework, said first pair being spaced from said second pair along said ridge and defining a gap, the sheet members of each pair being arranged edge to edge and each having two opposite longitudinal edge portions and a transverse edge portion extending intermediate said longitudinal edge portions and located adjacent said ridge, all of said edge portions projecting upwardly in direction away from said framework; securing means securing adjacent upwardly projecting longitudinal edge portions of each pair of sheet members to one another and to said framework; covering means overlying said adjacent upwardly projecting edge portions of each pair of sheet members; a ridge cap overlying said ridge of said framework and covering said gap, said ridge cap comprising two mutually inclined sections each having a surface facing said framework and provided with an upwardly open channel located intermediate said surface and said framework; and hook means carried by said securing means and engaging the respective channels for thereby fastening said ridge cap to said frame work.

5. In a gable-roof structure, a framework comprising a ridge and two mutually inclined sides adjoining said ridge; and each comprising a plurality of elongated channel-shaped members extending parallel to said ridge; a first pair of sheet members supported by and covering one of said sides and a second pair of sheet members supported by and covering the other of said sides of said framework, said first pair being spaced from said second pair at said ridge and defining a gap, the sheet members of each pair being arranged edge to edge and each having two opposite longitudinal edge portions projecting upwardly in direction away from said framework; securing means securing adjacent upwardly projecting longitudinal edge portions of each pair of sheet members to one another and to said framework; covering means overlying said adjacent upwardly projecting edge portions of each pair of sheet members; a ridge cap overlying said ridge of said framework and covering said cap, said ridge cap comprising two mutually inclined sections each having a surface facing said framework and provided with an upwardly open channel located intermediate said surface and said framework; and hook means carried by said securing means and engaging the respective channels for thereby fastening said ridge cap to said framework.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said channel-shaped members each comprise two spaced parallel side walls, a web connecting said side walls and defining an open channel therewith, and a flange extending outwardly from at least one of said side walls transversely thereof, and wherein said securing means is connected with said web.

7. A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the channels of the respective channel-shaped members face downwardly and said sheet members overlie the respective webs; and further comprising thermo-insulating panels interposed intermediate said webs and said sheet members.

8. A structure as defined in claim 7, and further comprising support members carried by said flanges of the respective channel-shaped members for supporting portions of said thermo-insulating panels thereon.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Gillett et a1. 52467 X Schadler 52467 X 5 Huntington 52278 X Trostle 52467 X 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 566,945 5 195 8 Belgium. 624,142 7/1961 Canada. 682,086 11/1952 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

M. O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A GABLE ROOF COMPRISING (A) A FRAMEWORK WHICH IS AT LEAST PARTLY METALLIC; (B) METAL SHEETS SUPPORTED BY THE FRAMEWORK AND PLACED EDGE TO EDGE TO COVER SAID FRAMEWORK, TWO OPPOSITE EDGES OF EACH SHEET EACH BEING FOLDED TO FORM AN UPWARDLY PROJECTING RIB AND A DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING RIB, THE LATTER RIB BEING NEARER THE EDGE OF THE SHEET THAN THE FIRST MENTIONED RIB AND HAVING ITS APEX IN THE PLANE OF THE SHEET, BOTH RIBS EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF THE EDGE OF THE SHEET AND DEFINING TWO OPPOSITELY FACING CHANNELS, THE COVERING SHEETS BEING SEPARATED ADJACENT THE RIDGE OF SAID ROOF AND FORMING A GAP EXTENDING ALONG SAID RIDGE; (C) CLAMPS SECURING EACH RIBBED EDGE PART OF EACH SHEET TO THE RIBBED EDGE PART OF AN ADJACENT SHEET, EACH CLAMP INCLUDING A MEMBER SPANNING AND ENGAGING THE TWO ADJACENT RIBBED EDGE PARTS AND SCREW MEANS MOUNTED ON THE FRAMEWORK FOR TIGHTENING THIS MEMBER DOWN ONTO THE RIBBED EDGE PARTS AND CLAMPING THE SHEETS TO THE FRAMEWORK; 